Ventilating system



J. SHEARD ILIATING sY s'rEM "July 1, 1930.

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I "VENT Filed Oct. 22, 1928 INVENTOR: dbse ah Hfiizeard,

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July 1, 1930. J. H. SHE ARD VENTILATING SYSTEM Filed on. 22. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet v 2 FIG: fl

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l atentecl July 1 1 930 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JOSEPH H. SHEARD, orPHILADELPHIA, rEN 'sYLvAN'IA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID 'LUPTONS SONS COMPANY,OF. PHILADELPHIA, rEnNsYLv NIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' vnnr rA'rrne SYSTEM,

Application filed October 22, 1928'. Serial No. 314,000.

'This invention relates to ventilating systerns for industrial plants,and more particularly to plants devoted to the production of explosives,or in which explosives arefem- .ployed, or explodable materials or gasesdeveloped incidental to manufacturing proc- .The purpose of my inventionis to afford, in'the event of explosions within buildings or otherenclosures instant relief ofthe generated pressure and release of gases,thereby to minimize, as far, as possible in such emergencies,destruction of the plants, as well as casualties among the workers.These de-- siderata I attain through provision of a protectiveventilating system, with operating.

In the drawings Fig. I is a fragmentary? plan :view of a ventilatingsystem with closure operating mechanism convenientlyxem bodying myinvention. A

Fig. IIzis a part elevation and part longitudinal fragmentary detailsectional. view showing one of the component elements of the closureoperating mechanism; and

Fig. 111 is a vertical section on the plane designated IIIIIIin Fig. I.

.VVith more detailed reference first more particularly to Fig. I,comprehensively designates a ventilator closure in the form of a sashwhichis tobe considered as one of a series (not shown) all individuallyThe sash 5 maybestandard in design and construction, with horizontals 6and connect ing verticals 7 to supportpanes of glass, not

shown. it is to be assumed that each sash 5 in the system is in thepresent instance pivoted along its upperedge so as to swing laterallyoutward, -i. e. in the direction of the arrow at the upper right hand inthe illustration. The operating mechanism for the sash comprises a pairof arms 8, 9 which are iulcrumed at 10-, 11 to a stationary supportingstructure 12 and swung by means.

including 'aiscrewshaft 13 which is reversely threaded at opposite endsas conventionally indicated. Thisscrew shaft 13 is rotatably journalledin the lateral slot 18 of a bearer housing'lal on the "supportingstructure 12, andfit is actuated by a centrally-mounted cord or chainpulley 15. Engaged with the IBVQTSGly-tl'IIZGadGd ends of the screwshaft 13- are-collars 16,17having pivotal connection at 18,'19with'thearms 8, 9. Thus as the pulley 1:5 is'rotated in one direction orthe other, thecollars 1'6, 17 are moved toward or. away from each otherwhile the screw shaft 13 is concurrently moved laterally withimpartation of corresponding swinging movement to the arms 8 and 9.Securedat'an-angle to the arms ,8, 9 are cross pieces20, 21 which atoneend are pivotally connected as-at 22,123 with coordinating rods 24, 25thatextend to similar arms associated with the other sashes of thesystem in series withthe sash :5. :The opposite'ends of the cross pieces20, 21 are pivotal'ly coordinated at 26, 27 with extensile links 28, 29which are in turn pivotally connected at their opposite ends .to thelower edge of the sash 5 as indicated at 30, 31. v The extensile links28' 29 are exactly alike in construction, one of. them being detailed inFigAII. As there shown, each such link comprises two sliding tubular;ccmponents 3'2, 33 whereof the smaller telescopes into the larger. Theouter end oi the inner tube 38 is flattened with provision of'lanear-1.34 for pivotal at: tachmentg-at-26zto the cross piece 20 ofthea-rni18; :while the larger tube 32 is similarly flattenedat-its outerend to provide a lug35, which, conjointly with 'a separately attachedlug 36, forms a clevis for pivotal connection at 30 to the sash 5.Within its hollow at the inner end, the smaller tube 33 of the linkcarries a ivoted pawl 37 which is subject-to the in uence of a helicalspring 38 tending to maintain its free end engaged with notches 39, 39at intervals along the length of the outer tube 32. Normally the pawl 37is engaged with the notch 39 nearest the fulcrum point 30 with the link28 or 29 fully contracted. As shown, the

smaller tubular link component 33 enters the larger one 32 through anadjustable friction means generall designated by the numeral 40. Thisfriction means 40 includes a cap piece 41 which has threaded engagementwith the outer end of the tube 32 and houses a pair of gland rings 42,with packing 43 inter osed. As the cap piece 41 is tightened up, t epacking 43 will obviously be compressed with maintenance of frictionalrestraint to prevent rattling of the sashes 5 as well as to preventdistention of the links 33 incidental to ordinary use of the sashoperating mechanism.

Under normal actuation of the sash 5'the links 28, 29 function as thrustmembers to communicate the movement of the arms 8, 9 to the sash 5,thereby to swing the latter to open position. In the event of anexplosion the sash 5 and others in series with it are left free to openby virtue of the telescopic or extensile character of the links 28, 29.In other words, as pressure acts upon the sashes, resistance of thefriction means 40 is overcome to the end that the smaller tubularcomponents 33 of the links 28, 29 will slide forwardly within the largertubes 32. As the action roceeds, the pawls 37 disengage automatical yfrom. the notches 39 and enter one of the notches 39 beyond. The wholegroup of sashes 5 are thereby locked in open position with instantrelief of the internal pressure and release of smoke or fumes attendantupon an explosion within the building. My invention thus afiords aneffective safeguard against destruction of both life and property.

To subsequently restore the links 28, 29

i to normal condition, the pawls 37 may in each instance be pressedinward for passage by the several notches 39 until once again registeredwithin the notch 39; or the small tube 33 may be disconnected and turnedpart way around to take the pawl 37 out of the province of the notches39 during shifting, and finally turned back into position for said pawlto engage the notch 39.

In practice, the several parts constitutin the extensile members 28, 29of the sas operating mechanism are constructed from non-corrodingmaterials to insure of absolute dependability for operation inemergencies. While I have shown and described my invention in connectionwith a system of ventilating sashes 5 for use in buildings, it 1s not tobe construed as so limited, since the principle involved is applicableto other closure systems, such for example as doors of bulkheads inmines, etc.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a ventilating system of the character described, a closure andmechanism for normally 0 crating it, said mechanism embodying te escopictubular means permitting the closure to open automatically underpressure of ex losions.-

2. In a ventilating system of the character described, a closure andmechanism for normally operating it, said mechanism embodying extensilemembers permitting automatic opening of the closure under pressure of exlosions.

3. n a ventilating system of the character described, a closure andmechanism for normally operating it, said mechanism embodying extensilemembers with sliding com onents permitting automatic opening of theclosure under pressure of explosions.

4. In a building ventilating system of the character described,mechanism for normally operating it, said mechanism embodying extensilemembers with telescoping components permitting the closure to openautomatically under pressure of ex losions.

'5. n a building ventilating system of the character described, aclosure and mechanism for normally operating it, said mechanismembodying extensile means permitting the closure to open automaticallyunder pressure of explosions, and means to lock the closure againstshutting when automatically opened in the manner indicated.

7 6; In a ventilating system of the character described, a closure andmechanism for normally operating it, said mechanism embodying extensilemembers permitting the closure to open automatically under pressure ofexplosions, and friction means associated with the extensile members toprevent rattling of the closure and distention of the extensile membersincidental to normal operation.

7. In a ventilating system of the character described, a closure andmechanism for normally operating it embodying extensile memberspermitting the closure to open automatically under pressure ofexplosions, said extenslle members comprising two relatively slidableparts, one of such parts carrying means to automatically interlock withthe other when in extended position,

thereb to hold the closure against shutting after aving beenautomatically opened in the manner indicated.

8. In a ventilating system of the character described, a closure andmechanism for a closure and normally operating it embodying extensilemembers permitting the closure to open automatically under pressure ofexplosions, said members comprising relatively slidable components, onecarrying a spring pressed pawl to engage a notch in the other when inextended position, thereby to hold the closure against shutting afterhaving been automatically opened in the manner indicated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsyl- Vania, this 13th day of October, 1928.

JOSEPH H. SHEARD.

